This week, MPR’s Ground Level and reporter Tom Robertson look at whether there really is a jobs-skills mismatch n Minnesota — what’s causing what we’re seeing, and what’s being done about it. (Hint: It’s a lot more complicated than you think.) I posted yesterday on a conversation Robertson had with Steve Hine, research director for Read more →
In a preview to a series this week on the so-called jobs-skills mismatch in Minnesota, MPR reporter Tom Robertson was on this morning’s Daily Circuit with Steve Hine, research director at the state Department of Employment and Economic Development. Robertson told of a machine-trades instructor (Ronn Redemske) at a Central Lakes College machining program, who Read more →
In a preview to a series this week on the so-called jobs-skills mismatch in Minnesota, MPR reporter Tom Robertson was on this morning’s Daily Circuit with Steve Hine, research director at the state Department of Employment and Economic Development. Robertson told of a machine-trades instructor (Ronn Redemske) at a Central Lakes College machining program, who Read more →
I’ve been meaning for ages to get to this. A lot has been said about how many degrees and certificates workers will need in the coming years — much of it based on findings by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. But Mark Misukanis, former director of finance and research for the state Read more →
Last week MPR aired my radio story on the statewide survey by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. It wants to see what job skills employers want to see in job candidates and how it can work (or “collaborate” as the new buzzword goes) with employers. Metropolitan State University sociology professor Monte Bute Read more →
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system chancellor Steven Rosenstone has announced the start of the statewide jobs-skills survey he has talked about in weeks past. MnSCU, along with the state Chamber of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Employment, is performing a joint “Workforce Assessment” to analyze the “state’s skills gap.” (I’ve posted on some Read more →
After reading so much about education and jobs for my work, it’s good for me to step back and read about the issue through the eyes of an outsider — a potential student, a parent, a laid-off worker. That’s what I did with this one that appeared in Sunday’s Star Tribune. After reading it, I’m Read more →
Here’s an American RadioWorks podcast on manufacturing jobs that gets into the “jobs-skills mismatch” argument a little. (Note: Click on the “Download” link if it doesn’t play on my blog.) It got me thinking: Has something indeed changed that has caused a drop in the number of workers who are skilled enough to enter those Read more →
I’m intrigued by Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s mention in the Rochester Post-Bulletin of a proposal for feds to work with businesses on what I assume will be training programs: I’m working right now to develop federal legislation that would, among other things, build on the success in Alexandria (Technical and Community College) by providing incentives for small Read more →
While describing what Alexandria Technical and Community College is doing to help decrease Minnesota’s job-skills mismatch, the Echo Press explains one of the dynamics involved: It’s an urban “bubble” phenomenon: for each hour that you drive away from the Twin Cities and into rural areas, manufacturing’s workforce gap widens. Read the full story here.
Alex Friedrich